Kupe

As a by the by, I live in Australia and have found it cheaper and that is inclusive of postage to buy from CRC. Don't think that just because you live in SA that bike products are expensive. Everything here relating to cycling is at a premium price and that is mostly due to distance. Want cheap products we need to live in Europe or Tawain. Another online store to look at is called: www.bikesomewhere.com it is an American site so not sure if they post to SA

I feel for you, not sure if insurance works the same in SA as in OZ. I had a stack, didn't crack the frame however did bend my bars, seat and front rim, all were covered by general house hold insurance and replaced with upgrades. All I had to pay was my excess. My first move would be to call your insurance and make a claim and then try get the Airline to cover costs. Also send an email to a number of newspapers and any consumer tv program explaining to them how much everything cost. Make sure that you blame the Airline, bad publicity is not going to help them get new customers or gain trust.

I have a Arione on my bike which when I first started with it after coming off a body geometery Phenom, thought it was going to be really uncomfortable as it long and flat looking with no cut outs. However it is a really comfortable saddle. As the previous post says it is a really long saddle so you have make sure that the position of the saddle and you are correct. It does give you that flexability to move up down on the saddle if the boys are getting a bit numb.

Another possible area, When I bought my Tcr advanced I had the same clicking noise and also thought it was from the bb, turned out that it was from the seat tube and all it needed was to be regreased with carbon grease and re seated. noise went away

Not only is the chamios important, it is also the number of panels that make up the knicks, more equals better. There should also be double stiching on all parts of the knicks. I am a big fan of pearl Izumi, not sure if you get them in SA. Cheaper by a long strech than Assos. www.bikesomewhere.com supplies not sure if the post to SA.

Thanks for all the replies and I have looked into some of the clubs online, SA web sites are bit lacking in information some times. I will be in SA in Jan so I will hopefully get a chance to go into a couple of shops, use my 1-7 exchange rate to buy stuff and get some more info. I also have a mountain bike however I am a roadie at heart.Kupe2009-12-12 00:17:03

Here are some law changes that have gone into effect this year in Melbourne. No the pedestrian did not fall over and hit his head he caught the full force of a 40+km bike rider. http://www.theage.com.au/national/jail-threat-for-dangerous-cyclists-20090618-cird.html

It is all spot fines. No bicycle licences exist that I know of, however there are the sad few who are trying to get law passed to have bike licences, what they have not taken into consideration is that most bike riders also drive cars so they already have a road licence. The bike lanes are marked with a picture of a bike and some times they are green. St kilda has recently put in pavement breaks between the side walk, bike lane and road. We also have bike paths which are not road based at all but will go through scenic routes, like following the Yarra river. These paths are also used by commuters as they will go from most suburbs on the eastern side of the city to the cbd.

Here is some good news, the non obeying of road rules is not unique to SA, I live in Melbourne and we have exactly the same problems, of riders jumping lights, stop streets and even yields. However what we do have is bike lanes that are only for bicycles and they are policed. If nothing else this some what protects the rider from all vechiles. We also have police who randomly do spot check to ensure that your bike is road worthy and that you are riding with a helmet. If caught breaking the road rules as a rider you are subject to the same punishments as car user and wiil get fined accordingly. Example in point a few years ago a rider jumped a stop light and killed a pedestrian, he was sentenced to jail time. Solution better policing and more riders speaking out when seeing law breakers. These guys give us all a bad name.

Open letter to all who whould like to respond. My family and I are considering returning to SA. We live in Melbourne, Australia and have been here for the last 10 years, Why we are thinking about returning is complicated however I am an avid road cyclist and am slightly obssesed with my riding. One of my biggest concerns about returning is what is it like to ride in SA, If we came back, it would be to Johannesburg, Sandton area. So really I need riders from the area to respond. I would like some feed back on the road conditions, the areas to ride, if it is worth while joining a club and who is recommedable. what it is like to share ride the roads with cars and the like and any other information that might be relevant. I currently ride a Giant TCR advanced 1 2009 model. Thanks to all that respond, Kupe